Cardiff suburb hit by 10 floods in 20 years to get new defences

A suburb blighted by flooding is set to benefit from a new flood protection scheme.

A suburb blighted by flooding is set to benefit from a new flood protection scheme.

Consultants and engineers from Cardiff council will spend the next eight weeks in Rhiwbina carrying out preparatory work and developing plans before construction on a flood defence project starts in spring-summer 2013.

It comes after residents living in Rhiwbina teamed up with Environment Agency Wales (EAW) and Cardiff council to devise a community flood plan after the area was hit by flooding 10 times in 20 years – most recently in January this year.

At the time Mary Clarke, of the Rhiwbina Community Flood Group, said residents had put contingency plans in place with roles for people to monitor the Rhiwbina brook, alert the emergency services and help elderly neighbours move their possessions.

Funding for the new flood defence project has come from the European Regional Development Fund, the Welsh Government and Cardiff council. Construction work is expected to start next year, with a scheduled completion date of October 2013. The public will have the opportunity to view an exhibition of designs early in the New Year.

Executive member for environment, Councillor Ashley Govier, said, “action needed to be taken” to protect homes and businesses from flooding.

He said: “Rhiwbina has three watercourses running through the area and these have become increasingly prone to flooding with the most recent and significant occurrence being in June 2009.

“With residential and commercial properties affected it was clear action need to be taken to help protect these properties and improve the quality of life in this area for residents and businesses alike.

“As with any project there may be some minor disruption but this will be kept to a minimum as the work progresses.

“We want the public to work with us on this important flood defence programme that will greatly improve local resilience to the type of flood events that have afflicted this popular area of Cardiff in recent years.

“It is a key part of the administration’s vision to improve the quality of residents’ local environment and this scheme will deliver significant improvements to the Rhiwbina area.”

Rhiwbina councillor Jayne Cowan, who was involved in residents’ efforts to protect themselves with a community flood plan, added: “I welcome the funding which has been allocated to this scheme.

“I will never forget the destruction caused to shops and houses from the normally idyllic Rhiwbina brook during flooding.

“My colleagues and I have been working closely with the exceptional Gary Jenkins and his officers in drainage for many years and this project will hope to prevent future severe flooding in Rhiwbina. In the coming months, my colleagues and I will be holding public meetings with council officials, and will keep residents informed.”

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